Posts Tagged ‘Kloudygirl’

Happy New Year ChipWINners! Welcome back to my column, So You Wanna Make A Chiptune! It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these. Normally, I’ve reserved SYWMAC for the review of hardware and software related to the production of chiptune to help you determine what would be best suited for you. However, with this being the first article of the new year, I thought I’d talk about something just as important: motivation.

I’m sure a great many of you have made resolutions to become more active, steadfast and prolific with your creative endeavors. Just like with any other resolution, I know you’re going to need help staying focused. It’s okay: concentrating on new goals, New Year’s resolutions or otherwise, can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources within the scene to help you stay motivated! If you’re willing to work towards your larger goal by doing smaller goals, you’re guaranteed to make your dreams a reality in no time. Let’s not waste any more time. Come along with me as I guide you beautiful unicorns to pristine waters that I hope you will drink from!

Welcome back to Raw Cuts, ChipWINners! First and foremost, I’d like to take the time to thank you all for stickin with me over the past few months! This is my 20th edition of RCwK and to help celebrate this special occasion, I decided to do something special and interview not one, but two very awesome artists who not only run an incredible netlabel, but have recently put out a stellar compilation that’s a celebration for them as well!

5 years ago, Chema64 founded 56KBPS, Mexico’s premier chiptune netlabel! While his start off was small, with only a handful of artists contributing at first, Chema64 would soon be joined by another awesome artist by the name of Atoms or Faeries! Working together, they not only put out albums that do the chipscene in their neck of the world justice, but they would go on to found and curate a chiptune music festival called Format.DF: a 3 day event that would go on to be the Blipfest of Latin America!

To celebrate, commemorate and immortalize the beauty of that festival and achievements thus far, the guys put out a bombastic 30 track compilation that manages to set itself apart from other chiptune/lofi comps over the past 2 years by being dynamic, diverse, culturally flavorful and easily accessible! From the grimey sounds of Crab Sound’s “Nooby Clairvoyence” to the intermittent wubs of Coleco Music’s “Irak Undo” to the trance/house korg inspired goodness of Anwar Sanchez’s “What’s I O”, there is literally something on this album for everyone. In short, this is one of the few times where an album so lovingly captures lightning in a bottle that the sum of the parts is truly equal to the whole.

But don’t take my word for it; sit back and relax with it as I take the time to talk to Chema64 and Atoms or Faeries about their music, the scene, the album and what comes next for them.

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Kuma: So lets get started at the beginning. How’d you guys first get started in chiptune and how did you two meet each other?

Atoms or Faeries (AoF): Would you like to go first Chema?

Chema64: I accidentally came across chipmusic in 2005, I don’t even remember how, but the first chiptune I heard was by Tugboat. I made my first tunes by 2007 and in 2009 I founded 56KBPS Records, because there were no Spanish-speaking presence at the time. I met Marco (Aof) in 2013. He’s only been part of the net label since 2014 but so far he has been a invaluable piece to the label.

Kuma: I think that’s the most brief history of someone’s background in chiptune I’ve ever heard. XD Well done, Chema! What about you, Marco?

AoF: I’ve always loved videogame music. I used to listen to it every day and sometimes I just played a game because of its tunes. I studied Music Production and while I was doing so some of my electronic music teachers told me the music I made sounded like something out of a retro videogame XD I started making bitpop in 2010 under the name Atoms Or Faeries. I released my first EP on May 2013 and I came across Colectivo Chipotle. I contacted them and met Chema in person during the FORMAT DF. We got along really well and sometime later a curator position was available at his label. I jumped at the oportunity and here we are today.

Kuma: Now correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Format DF that shindig Virt performed at down in Mexico? If so, I’m glad it was you guys who organized it, because if this album is any indication, you guys must have kicked ass live!

Chema: No, those were different guys, we brought Danimal Cannon, IAYD and MENEO to a 3 day free music festival, Format.DF. It’s the biggest event of its kind in Latin America so far.

AoF: It was great bro! We played at an abandoned chapel that belonged to the Spanish Inquisition. And it was sooo cool! I wish you were there!

Chema: The ambiance was magical, all brotherly love and all!

Kuma: Oh man that still sounds awesome! like a South American Blipfestival or 8static Fest! I’m so glad the chip love is spreading and that you’re making it happen! Are there any plans to include more overseas artists in the future to the event or for you guys to travel into the US and play up north in NYC or Philly?

Chema: I’m going to do some visuals next week in SXSW, thanks to IAYD. It’s going to be my first show outside of my home country!

AoF: Regarding this year’s FORMAT we’d love to invite international musicians again, of course! We’re still in the early stages of planning, though.

Chema: And talking about bringing people, we are making slow but steady progress for this year’s Format.DF. We already selected some musicians from South America and United States. Last year we wanted to bring someone from Japan but it didnt happen

Kuma: Do you have plans on inviting some of the artists on this compilation? Cause I have to say, a lot of the people on it I’ve not heard of and I feel bad for saying that cause this albums really legit! And if so, are there any in particular you liked working with that contributed to the label that you’d like to see have more exposure?

Chema: Yes, I guess the Chilean artists have a record of exporting excellent music.
They are very professional and from what I know, they need more exposure. Talking about mexican artists, we get some top quality acts, starting with Crab Sound, such a young artist, but one of the best.

AoF: Most of the people who participated in the album will play on this year’s festival. I can’t say I enjoyed working with any one person in particular. Everyone was great in their own way and though there are people who are way more developed than others I enjoyed working with them all. A chip labor of love!

Kuma: I’m glad to hear there’s as much love where you guys are as there is where I am, and I’m glad to hear that love is starting to become more interconnected and international. Going back a bit to interconnect that idea, how did you get your gig to do visuals for SXSW, Chema? And how long have you been doing visuals for? Is it something you took up after getting involved musically or something you always did beforehand?

Chema: I started doing visuals in 2011 because the chiptune shows require it. Being a graphic designer really helps in this department. I absolutely love doing them, it`s like a natural extension of the music and the way I do it is really like playing a live instrument. IAYD was kind enough to invite us to his hometown, and what better time than during SXSW. He also got me the gig, I’m so exited to see Danimal, IAYD again and get to know the Tx Chiptune scene.

AoF: IAYD is such a great guy! He’s very talented and friendly and he parties like there’s no tomorrow! It was difficult to keep up with his partying levels I’ll tell you that XD

AoF: Yes. I have a list that’s longer than Santa’s. I especially love bitpop, so Fantomenk, Dunderpatrullenand Bossfight are high on the list. I really love Omodaka‘s work as well, the way he combines traditional japanese folk music with electronica and chiptune is so original and fantastic! I like to include hints of Mexican folk music on my music so I feel really connected to Omodaka in that sense.

Chema: Yeah I was thinking exactly that, Marco. Also in the graphic department the “Mexican style” is pretty evident. It’s not about nationalistic feelings, but about the style, that you don’t see very often in chiptune/demoscene.

Kuma: Those are some big names, and of those, I’ve only seen Omodaka, but I can def say he alone is worth the cost of a ticket if you guys can get him to come to play for you. That hint of the traditional was something I did notice in your music on your Soundcloud page, AoF, and I thought it was pretty cool to hear something with a somewhat traditional flavor in chip. Conversely, I gushed over how typically chip Chema’s Shatterhand remix was, so I’m glad I got hear a bit of both from you guys. That being said, was diversity something you were def going for when you put the compilation together, or did you have other feelings/thoughts in mind when you put it together?

Chema: I knew from the start, with this many artists, it was going to be a mess in form and style. The only criteria for this albums was: “Let’s invite our friends that make the most awesome music in the area”. I guess quality was the definitive criteria. I can finally be confident that the scene in this part of the world really matured in the last couple of years

AoF: Thanks Adam! And yeah, the music from our friends is so diverse there was no way we could’ve limited it in form or style if we wanted to remain true to what FORMAT was about. Yep, I concur with Chema. Quality was the main criteria in this case.

Kuma: It def shows. Every song on the album is a lot of fun to listen to, and even some of the songs that are in styles I generally don’t listen to are still rather enjoyable. The whole compilation is just dynamic and it’s something I love and want to hear more of in the future from every net label that puts out collections like this. That being said, once again, I’d like to thank you guys for your time. Is there anything you two would like to say in closing before we wrap this up?

AoF: I personally enjoyed working on this compilation very much. It was great to experience such diversity and growth from our friends at the scene.

Chema: I would say we still have a long road ahead of us and that this is only the beginning. I also wanna thank you and Brandon for the interview! It means a lot!

AoF: Thanks so much for having us Adam! It really means a lot to us. We’ve been struggling to get a footing on the international scene and I feel like we’re finally making it happen! Chip love for everyone! Also, have you heard the phrase “Chido-Chip”, Adam?
Kuma: No, I can’t say I have.

AoF: Chido is a slang word that is very similar to “cool”. So Chido-Chip means something like Cool Chip and it carries all the energy and enthusiasm we feel for chipmusic. I feel it represents really well the feeling and state of the Mexican scene.

Kuma: Nice man! Chido…I’ma have to remember that. I’ll def spread the Chido-Chip love and vibes here, man! Thanks again to you both for the interview!
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Thanks for tuning and keeping up with us on the blog, and especially for sticking with my derpy butt for 20 issues of Raw Cuts! It’s been a truly fantastic ride and i can’t wait for what the future brings! That being said, don’t forget to check out 56KBPS as well as Chema64 and Atoms or Faeries individual work! And if you’re at SXSW, check out the chiptune and vgm showcases this week for a chance to meet Chema as well as some of the other awesome artists from across the world who are performing there! ‘Til next time!

Yo! Welcome back to Raw Cuts With Kuma! This time around, I hit up chipmusic.org to scope out some talent to interview, and oh lawd, did I find someone special! A young man with skill to spare, this underrated chiptune artist shattered his silence to great acclaim when he popped his performance cherry earlier this year at North Door! This highly adept musician recently took the time to sit down with me and talk about his music, the people who inspire him, and the dedication he has to the craft of chiptune. So without further ado, I present to you my interview with Matthew Rodriguez, aka Star Fighter Dreams!

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Kuma: So before we get started, there’s something I gotta say. I spent time listening to your music on SoundCloud and I gotta admit, not only did I like what I heard, but I’m now saddened by the fact that I missed your open mic session at Blipfest last year!

Star Fighter Dreams (SFD): oh no that one was from 2011! I was on the roster open mic 2012 but never got called. I was disapointed but no worries

Kuma: Well at least now I can say I didn’t miss an awesome set I could have made it to, ’cause god damn man! Your stuff is good, bro! It’s lively as hell, and it’s got more polyphony to it than a lot of other chip I’ve heard, but I take it that’s on account of your set up! Tell me, what exactly do you use to make your music and how’d you get into chip in the fist place?

SFD: Okay. Let’s start with getting into chip music.

I got into chiptune around early 2008. March, I think, while I was browsing around on the then relevant MySpace for electronic powerpop bands, I came across a profile picture of Sabrepulse jumping off a table.

I thought to myself “What is this guy all about?”. So I clicked on his profile and when it loaded up, some of his early chiptune works started playing. At first I was pretty meh because I had no idea of what the process was.

Kuma: I think I know exactly which picture you’re talking about. What was it that was the turning point for you? When did you go from saying “meh” to “whoa”?

SFD: There was link to the 8bitpeoples website on his profile, so I clicked on that. At the time, 8bitpeoples and 2 Player Productions had just finished their collaboration documentary called ‘Reformat The Planet’. On the 8bitpeoples website, the first page was the trailer for the documentary that was being premiered mere weeks away in Austin for the SXSW film fest.

That trailer changed my life.

In it was the framework for me to find out what kind of music I wanted to make and the ethos I had been looking for all along. It didn’t glorify nostalgia for video games, it glorified people and their creative abilities to make this technology do what it was never designed to do.

After I saw that trailer I began collecting. Information, trackers, albums, anything that could help find out more about this awesome creative force seemingly brimming beneath the surface. After much deliberation, I bought a Game Boy and my first LSDJ cartridge in late August/early September 2008

Kuma: Wow. That’s quite a story. I’m glad you took that from that movie. While, admittedly, I’ve yet to get around to seeing that documentary myself (gasp!), that philosophy behind the tech we use to make the music is one I’ve always held: that we as a disposable society aren’t pushing our tech to it’s fullest potential. Chiptune represents us pushing to the edge.

When you finally picked up that Game Boy, how did it feel in your hands? Was using LSDJ intimidating or did you have prior musical experience you could carry over into chiptune production?

SFD: I had used an emulator to run a demo of LSDJ to try and figure out the controls. Trackers have a huge learning curve, and I admittedly had no idea what I was doing most of time using the emulator, but I eventually figured out how to input notes and move between screens.

Other than that, though, I was working from a non-music perspective. I hadn’t used an instrument or read music since I was in 8th grade so it was also daunting in that respect. Luckily, I took a music theory course in college and that laid a good ground for me to experiment with music theory while also learning it

Kuma: Very nice. Now, when you first started to feel confident with what you were making on LSDJ, did you decide you wanted to play live soon after, or did you feel there was still something missing?

SFD: I had my first full set as Star Fighter Dreams this June so I guess you could say there was something missing. Lurking on 8bitcollective and CM.O, I’ve learned there were plenty of people willing to get into chip and write music but only because they thought it was cool.

I felt that my music should show respect to those that came before me and at least make people feel good, which is I have only just started playing shows and still haven’t released any proper EP or album.

Kuma: I noticed that, actually. I scoured the net for more music of yours beyond what was on your SoundCloud, such as Bandcamp, NoiChan, ucollective, CM.O, and even Myspace. Nothing. Nothing at all. But from what I did hear, it was definitely very cool.

Who would you say are your biggest influences musically? Is EDM something you were always into prior to chiptune or did it take chiptune to get into it?

SFD: I was definitely a fan of electronic music before hand, but I really got much more into it once I started making it. My biggest influences currently are: IAYD, Bit Shifter, Rage Against The Machine, Bath Aide, Saskrotch, Arcade High and many more artists.

Oh just fyi, I have song on TX Chip Compilation 1 and there is a super old song still on MySpace somewhere. That one I believe is like the third song I ever wrote on LSDJ! LOL! Memories.

Kuma: Oh, I’ll have to look up the Texas chip one, but when I went looking on Myspace, it gave me a broken link page. That, in turn, resulted in profound sadness.

Is there anything we can expect to see of you in the future? Any appearances at major festivals, or perhaps an album form you in the near future?

Kuma: Nice!!!! After having seen IAYD recently, as well as listening to your music, I can definitely say this is a show I wish I could hit up!

SFD: It’s in December, so save up and come on down and see how we do it down here

Kuma: Oh man! December? That’s so close to MAGFEST! Oh man, don’t do that to me, bro!

SFD: Peer pressure! Peer pressure! Peer pressure! Y’know you wanna!

But yeah man, next time I’m in New York, the drinks are on me dude.

Kuma: Like wise, bro: next time I’m down south and I know you’re around, all the pabst 5 dollars can buy…I’m pretty sure that’s all of it! Anyway, is there anything you’d like to say in closing to our readers out there?

Kuma: So, it’s been a while since we’ve all been together. 8 months, in fact. Jeeze can you believe that? I haven’t seen ya’ll in 8 months?

AutoRemi-PK (Remy): That’s nine months too long.

President Hoodie (Hoodie): DEFINITELY way too long.

Kuma: You guys on the other hand though: ya’ll got to go to BRKFest, which looked awesome from what I saw on Clipstream!

Hoodie:YES. YES IT WAS. It seriously felt like a mini-Blipfest, no lie.

Kuma: That’s actually what I wanted to ask you guys! You’ve all been to a lot of fests. Blip, PAX, MAG, Nerda. How did BRK compare to those?

Chip Mama (Mama): Well it was my first all chip show. I’d seen a bunch of good chip acts at MAG, Nerda, and PAX, but the amount of awesome at BRK was overwhelming.

Hoodie: Yeah. I love Blipfest (or at least the one that I made it to in 2011! haha), but BRK definitely felt like a smaller, more tightly knit Blip. It was endless good times! And dickbutts. Lots and lots of dickbutts.

Actually, that’s my one regret: I didn’t get to draw a dickbutt on anything. :*( Tommy (Thunderfox) brought a shirt that everyone signed and Tony (monotony) had his cast up for inking.

Remy: BRK is a lot smaller but a lot more closely-knit.

Mama: I agree with Remy: it seemed like everyone there knew each other either from in person or on the tubes.

Kuma: Wait really? That was your first all chip show? I find that hard to believe considering you’re Chip Mama!

Mama: I consider myself home-schooled in chiptune by one of the best.

Hoodie: HAHAHA!

Remy: Brandon isn’t the president we need but he’s the one we deserve.

Kuma: I’d hope so! I think it’d be a disservice to all of us if you were just on the side while Brandon did all this fun shit!

Hoodie: Real talk: BRK = only my second “all” chip show!

Kuma: What? Brandon you too! You’re our President! watrudoin!

Hoodie: Sure, I’ve been to a handful of MAGs, Nerdas, PAXs, etc., but not too many *JUST* chip shows. I wholly blame my location for that: BF, Arkansas. >_>
Working on that, tho…

Kuma: You’d better. Remy, the close knit feel at BRK, did it feel like 8static?

Remy: It felt like 8static with southern hospitality. I can safely say that the best bar and the best coffee joint I’ve been to were literally right across the street from one another.

Kuma: Yo seriously, what was up with that place you guys all went to eat at! All the pictures of the food from there look like waffle house x9000!

Hoodie: Damn, I could sure go for one of those Apple Jacks donuts at that coffee shop right about now…

Kuma:What! Strangers crowd surfing to chip and a bar that beats out The Institute? Now I have to make it next year!

Mama: Hell yes you do! One of the bouncers went home with ChipWIN CDs! And the bartenders had a stack! The music was beyond what I expected!

Hoodie: More real talk: BRK turned out *EVEN BETTER* than I expected. The music, the people (locals included!), the food, EVERYTHING = WIN.

Kuma: Damn it, I really have to do this next year! But, damn: so many things to go to next year! That being said, you guys have any crazy fun stories you want to share? I’d love to hear about random after party nonsense or travel stories that you may have!

Mama: Can we talk about the mustache dude that crowd surfed for a second? cuz WOW!!!

Hoodie: Hahahahahaha YES!

Remy: Yes we can.

Kuma: Mustached dude?

Hoodie: I totes thought he was a creeper at first. hahaha.

Kuma: God that alone sounds like half of chiptune!

Mama: He’d never even HEARD of chiptune before. I thought he was a creeper at first cuz he was taking pictures, but when folks started talking to him he was totally enthusiastic.

Remy: Because if anything embodies what makes this collective scene great, it’s the reception he gave all of us that night and the one he got in turn.

Hoodie: By mustache dude, we mean some random local who came to Al’s to grab a few beers and encountered chiptune for the first time in his life and HAD A DAMN BLAST.

Mama: Wanted to be able to show his friends “the future of electronic music”

Hoodie: CUTTING EDGE.

Kuma: OMG that’s so damn cool! Was he an older cat? He sounds like an older cat!

Hoodie: And I’ll own up to this here too: I’ve always enjoyed Trey Frey’s music, but never caught him live before. And honestly, just never *quite* understood why people freak out about him *SO* much.

*NOW* I get it. *EXCELLENT* music. And just an all around quality dude, too. Super chill, super nice.

Kuma: Now I gotta hear this!

Remy: Trey Frey is as great a person as he is a musician, and that’s saying a LOT.

Hoodie: Agreed 1000% Remy. You can just tell that with some people. Just by interacting with them, watching them interact with other people, talking to them a bit.

Kuma: Yo, speaking of super chill, super nice, that final SMILETRON set, man. I didn’t catch all of BRK, but that set man…I felt the feels through the stream, man.

Hoodie: EXTREME amount of feels. Feels overload. 34987sadf654asdf654345. Almost solemn even. When the hell does *THAT* adjective come into play for a chipshow? Appropriate though.

Photo courtesy Marjorie Becker (Chiptography).

Mama: There were tears and sniffles. At least from me.

Hoodie: I held it in. Just barely.

Mama: SMILETRON is significant for me, since it was one of the first artists Bran and I listened to on some long car trips.

Hoodie: Erin almost screwed that up for me.

Mama: Sorry, babe.

Hoodie: Ay. He was one of the first artists I introduced her to in the chipworld, and just one of our favorites in general.

Kuma: God, I can only imagine how you two must have felt seeing him. How bittersweet.

Mama: Just watching his face during the set, it was almost like he was saying goodbye…

Photo courtesy Marjorie Becker (Chiptography).

Hoodie: A bit sad to see him close up that chapter in his musical life, but at the same time major props to him for doing that when it feels right vs. continuing to drag it out beyond what is proper.

Remy: I want to say that Casshern and S.P.R.Y. in particular did such an amazing job keeping that stream going and it is with no disrespect that I say no video could hope to capture the energy in that room.

Hoodie: Like I said, some solemn heavy stuff, man. But in a *GOOD* way.

Remy: Very much so. It was cathartic.

Hoodie: Agreed. Speaking of those cats, though, + the live sound guy & various visualists, AMAZING ZOMBOFURKIN JOB on *ALL* their parts!

Kuma: Definitely on both accounts. That was a solemn show if I ever saw one, but man, did SPRY and Dan kick ass for us at home! I really wanna do something for them to thank them for all the hard work they did.
Hoodie: He did an *EXCELLENT* job, no doubt. Hell, I didn’t think there even *WAS* gonna be a Clipstream until within the last weekend. Glenntai stepped up to rock that, and then when he had to bow out because of illness Dan volunteered to take it over. And he certainly did.

Photo courtesy Marjorie Becker (Chiptography).

Mama: I think I gave them cookies. If I didn’t, they deserve some!
Kuma: Yeah, the visualists were awesome, too! I definitely recognized ohhinaifu and datacats work there! Who else was running viz for BRK?

Remy: I have endless respect for datacats, both for all that he did to help me get out there, and the hard work he put in on visuals and his (TWO!) performances. There was a PIXELSEED video used, which is always awesome, and I believe andaruGOstepped up for visuals for a couple of sets!

Hoodie: And somebody else too, I believe.

Kuma: Wow, andaru does visuals? I know he does graphic design and illustration, but I didnt know he does live visuals, too. Also, I agree: PIXELSEED is the man.

Remy: PIXELSEED wasn’t there in person, but he very generously puts his work out there to be used by artists, which is very respectable. I want to say there was one more, too, but the person eludes me.

Hoodie: Part of what makes chiptune live shows so damn immersive is the excellent visualizations that accompany the music. And that was there 110% at BRK, for *DAMN* sure!!

Kuma: Seriously, that timing of Glenn’s pneumonia was unfathomable to me, especially considering all the work and build up he was doing to get there with Lora and Remy! I’m just glad you managed to make it down there, Remy! Although not without trouble, it seems.

Remy: Hahaha, when you’re on a long trip like that it’s never smooth sailing. datacats came through for me in a huge way and I can’t possibly thank him enough. He’s a paragon of selflessness. Hahahaha! Yeah, it really seemed like the universe did NOT want me to go to BRK.

Hoodie: DAMN THAT. I was *SO* pissed about that shit!!! -flips all the border dickbutts-

Remy: I’ve got 99 problems and fascism is most of them.

Mama: Hahaha!

Kuma: All that spiritual ascension, and yet he himself couldn’t levitate past airport securitah.

Hoodie: I was so looking forward to meeting him and catching him live too!! Another time, though, I suppose. Regardless, he was definitely missed at BRK. What a bucketload of rotten dickbutts, man. Ew.

Kuma: Seriously: that was a load of bs ever heard any, and I work in a public hospital: bullshit is my dayjob. That being said, you guys did manage to luck out with BSK! I can’t believe he came all the way from Japan to play at BRK!

Mama: He melted faces.

Hoodie: NO KIDDING, MAN. That… just… I DON’T EVEN

Kuma: No…no you have to clarify this for me because that was one of the sets I unfortunately missed.

Mama: I was thinking about crowd surfing up until that point, and then he made the energy in the room go SO HIGH. I decided that I had to go up.

Kuma: On a scale of 1 to Killer Instinct, how many faces did he melt!

Hoodie: Outside of Ralp at Blip 2011, I haven’t had much exposure to Japanese chip (especially live). [writers note: Ralp is from Spain {Hoodie note: OOPS! :3} ]. In general, it has a completely different kind of energy/feel. So frenetic & hyper & AWESOME.

Mama: People talk about 4 to the floor, that man was all 8 out the GATE. As in all 8 cylinders (Bran was looking at me askance from across the room)

Kuma: D=

Remy: BSK did Mario at a rave.

Hoodie: Hahahahaha!

Kuma: DAN FINISH UPLOADING THE VIDEOS ALREADY!

Photo courtesy of Marjorie Becker (Chiptography).

Hoodie: Even as awesome as he was, I can’t call it my favorite performance of BRK. Mostly because I’m not sure I *CAN* pick a favorite. Everything was SOOOO GOOOOOOD~ And that sounds generic & lame BUT GORRAMIT IT’S TRUE!!!!

Kuma: No. No I’m not giving you that excuse. Serious question time! Pick a favorite performance!

Hoodie: I’M THINKING.

Kuma: DO IT NOW!

Hoodie: IT’S HARD.

Mama: HNGGG!

Hoodie: I TRY NOT TO DO IT TOO OFTEN.

Remy: No, it really is true. A lot of BRKFest consisted of once-in-a-lifetime performances, things you just COULD NOT miss.

Hoodie: HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

Mama: Can I do a top 3?

Kuma: No. While I believe all of you on how amazing these performances are, that doesn’t make you exempt from the question.

Hoodie: Auxcide.

Something about his music that just *REALLY* resonates with me. And his energy live. Just… DAMN.

Hoodie: Yeah. He’d be my favorite for that reason. I HAVE DIFFERENT FAVORITES FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. SUCK ON IT.

Kuma: Remy, that’s a bad album cover waiting to happen, no matter how true it is. Btw, it’s your turn!

Hoodie: C’mon Remy. Man up. CHOOSE.

Remy: I really wish I could back my way out of this, hahaha.

Hoodie: NOPE. Time for you to pick and have that pick made public for all the world to see.

Kuma: Here, I’ll help. Of the performances I did see, I think the one I liked most was andaruGO! Andrew’s a sweet heart and I love his energy on stage. I just wish he played MACHINDER during his set. Other than that, he pretty much played his new album live before releasing it was awesome

Hoodie: HE WAS AWESOME. His energy was NUTS!!!! But that’s andaruGO for you hahaha! Meeting him was great, too. Meeting *EVERYONE* was so damn great!!!

And yeah, it’s (his new album) gonna be KILLER.

Kuma: Nice. Okay, Remy: it’s your turn.

Remy: I would say Solarbear, because his performance drove home the fact that, holy shit, I was at BRK. It happened. How, I do not know. Plus east coast chip is just so much better than west coast. Really, I don’t know what meds people are on to think otherwise.

Mama: Oh jeez

Kuma: Very true. On all accounts. Besides, its not like crashfaster is worth half the music they make. (just kidding, I love Morgan and crew.)

Remy: Yeah, I’ll probably take a lot of flak for joking about east/west chip but whatever. Solarbear is ok. He doesn’t drag us down TOO much.

Hoodie: …I missed Solarbear’s set…. ;___;

Mama: I’d like to tip my proverbial hat to Protoflight. Cuz he’s only 15 and ohmigosh he was amazing.

Remy: Yeah, Yung Cunni’s got mad skillz

Hoodie: But then again, SOLARBEAR SUX SO WHO CARES.

Kuma: Dood that preshow! I feel like the Datathrash crew doesn’t get the love they deserve! how was that? Did EGR himself play?

Photo courtesy Marjorie Becker (Chiptography).

Hoodie: IT WAS GREAT!!! Having to get up early enough to be there at noon after night one was kinda rough, though. hahah Coffee shop across the road saved the day once again. What was that one random band with the drummer that I’d never heard of before (that played the preshow)?

The hour long open mic they (The Preshow) opened with was pretty sweet too!

Kuma: I think that’s the most badass name I’eve ever heard for anything ever

Hoodie: hahaha Yeah, they had me on name alone.

Remy: The Datathrash show kicked off pretty early and was less hyped comparably but I can guarantee you that everyone gave 100% up there. Whether you’re playing to ten people or one hundred in that capacity is irrelevant, everyone who took that stage was impressive in their own right.

Hoodie: ^ THAT. Remy busted out a couple of jams on the spot for the open mic, too. IT WAS AWESOME.

Remy: Plus, The Dutchess’ tore the fucking roof down with his Wish cover, and that was with about twenty people around the stage.

Hoodie: HOLY SHIT! I DIDN’T EVEN REALIZE THE DUTCHESS WAS GLENN UNTIL BRK! HE WAS AWESOME!!!

Kuma: And that’s the thing I love most about chip: no matter what the skill level, everyone gives what they can and everyone supports with all their heart in return. I love it. Also, yeah, Glenn Bauer busts out some crazy stuff! But that’s what happens when you make music around guys like an0va and skgb!

Hoodie: Haha GOOD POINT.

Remy: Nothing but love for Philly chip.

Hoodie: Introducing Dobbins (and a handful of others) to the majesty that is Sam Adams Cherry Wheat on the final night was a highlight, as well. I apologize to all of you in advance for the alcoholism this is sure to cause. And props to one of my roomies, Jason Doss aka Square Therapy for bringing that! Prevented me from being sad once I discovered they didn’t have it at the bar.

Remy: Pff, you can’t get drunk off Cherry Wheat.

Mama: Yes you can, I’ve seen it.

Hoodie: OH YES YOU CAN.

Remy: Grow a liver.

Kuma: I think Hoodie’s liver is specifically designed to get drunk off cherry wheat

Remy: Hahahahaha!

Mama: And Jason brought goodies from Starbucks! Breakfast bar because of him.

Hoodie: TRUTH.

Kuma: But to be fair, a lot of us got drunk off poor man anger juice at blip and you don’t see us complaining. “Poor man’s anger juice” being Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Hoodie: POOR MAN ANGER JUICE LOLOLOLOL! THOSE WERE ON SPECIAL AT THE BAR. I drank a few. They’re still fucking awful.

Hoodie: Working with some folk on a few smaller local shows, but nothing quite like BRK yet. NASHVILLE. That’s one of the shows. hahaha

Mama: Yay! Only 4 hours!

Kuma: Wait, wait hold up for a second. Nashville…you wouldn’t be talking about the first of the semi regular show series Roboctopus is looking to host out there, would you?

Hoodie: YUP! THAT’S THE ONE!

Kuma: HNNNNNNNNNNNNNG!!!!!

Hoodie: He, I, Arnie of Datathrash and a few other cool dudes are making this a thing. It’s taken awhile (we’ve been brainstorming it since earlier this year??), but it’s gonna be worth it. I’m already sure of that.

Kuma: YES! You guys totally need it to be a thing! The Midwest suffers of terrible under representation! I know kloudygirl tried to do street busks and such in Texas and a few others tried to do the same here and there, but damn you guys need an 8static.

Mama: Yes it does! And we’ve got really talented folks in this region.

Hoodie: MAN OH MAN DO WE EVER!!!

Kuma: I’m so glad this is finally happening for you guys

Hoodie: With a little time and effort and WORK, maybe this’ll turn into that. Time will tell.

Kuma: I hope so. Even if its not strictly chip, I know you guys can make something wonderful happen there…as long as you have Amanda Lepre doing everything…which she’s already doing, so it’s gonna be a okay.

Hoodie: HAHAHAHAHA! Her and Danimal do indeed do *ALL THE THINGS*.

Remy: Yeah, no kidding.

Hoodie: I do enough of the things. That’s good enough for me.

Kuma: Seriously. I love what I do in the scene, but I can’t do what they do, let alone what you do, and god help me if I try to do what Kilpatrick does, cause I dunno how he does it.

Mama: AK is cray cray

Hoodie: Fuck that guy. He’s an asshole. ♥

Kuma: I only know one asshole in this scene, and just like Bigfoot, his existence is questionable at best.

Mama: ^Thats how Brandon expresses his man-love.

Hoodie: I put a ♥ after that statement. That clears it all up.

Mama: Of course, sweetieKuma: What about you, Remy? What can we expect of you in the next few months? Same for you, Erin. I know you and Bran are joined at the hip, but can we expect more Ryn vox? Also, when can I expect mah cookehs?

Remy: It’s always up in the air, man. I never know what events I’ll make it out to or when I’ll have a release so I try not to make a big deal out of anything.

Hoodie: DEFINITELY! She’s in the midst of working on some more collab goodness as we speak! As far as cookies, that’s up to her. I try to eat all of those I can. Y’all can get your own damn cookies!!!

Mama: There is more Ryn vox in the works! Princesses in Another Castle is working on getting a few songs together, and I’m in the early stages of a 5 track EP in collaboration with NickelPUNK. I’m super excited

Kuma: Eh its all good, Remy. I know nothing’s set in stone but it makes me happy that you’re doing your thing. And more Ryn vocals yay!

Remy: I’m just keeping relaxed and focusing on having some modicum of output. I’m not going to release a Teaching Machine or an Information Chase my first time around and that’s okay.

Kuma: Like wise: I don’t expect any EP I put out to sound amzing, but I’m happy my newer stuff sounds a little more Decktonic as of late. I think that about wraps up everything here. Thanks a lot guys! This was fun! We should definitely do it again!

Mama: Thank YOU. I hope you can make something coherent out of our rambling

Kuma: Oh, I definitely will

Remy: If you put an egg in your shoe and beat it, it’ll glue everything right back together.

Hoodie: Thank you! This was pretty damn fun! Next BRK? YOU BETTER BE THERE!
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Thanks for tuning for this special edition of RC! Don’t forget to follow BRKFest on Facebook to keep up with the lastest shenanigans, as well as updates on media uploads pertaining to it! Special Thanks go out to Hoodie, Ryn and Remy for this interview, as well as the many numerous artists who contributed to BRKFest, to Clipstream for making this a global experience for those who couldn’t make it in person, and to Chiptography for use of her immaculate photos in this article, as well as generally continuing to chronograph the awesomeness that is the chiptune scene! Peace!

It’s been a little over a month since the wonderful insanity that was Clipstream II happened. Lots of excellent chipmusic was performed, chair dancing was done, screen grabs were taken & posted, jawharp was jammed, & beer was drank and/or spilled all over the carpet (sorry again honey~ :3 ). GOOD TIMES FOR SURE. So good in fact…

THAT IT’S TIME FOR CLIPSTREAM III, BABY!!! 8D

That’s right!! THISsaturday, starting at 12:00PM EST (-5 GMT), Glenntai & Co. are once again bringing 12+ more hours of chipstreaming excellence to the intertoobs!!Craptons more of AMAZING chipartists braving the intertrons for your chipertaining pleasure!! Wanna know who exactly? ***BOOM*** Just inserted (-snickers-) a purdy flyer with ALL of the artists!! SO LOOK AT IT AND STOOF. :3

For the rest of the details, go to the fb event HERE, and join the Clipstream Ustream channel HERE to catch the show on Saturday! MOAR GOOD TIMES ARE A’COMIN!!

Starting with a pre-show at 12:30pm EST (-5 GMT), there’ll be12+ hours of live-streaming chipmusic by a virtual cornucopia of crazetastic chipartists!! TOO MUCH GOODNESS to miss out on!!

And to push this ridicuWIN over the top (as if it needed any help ;3 ), at the halfway point i.e. the ChipWINtermission (GLENNTAI MADE UP THAT PUNTASTIC NAME!! THROW TOMATOES AT HIS FACE, NOT MINE~ ♥), there will absolutely be a brief apperance by my crazy self, aka President Hoodie, & my jawharp.